Bowtie Cinemas acquires land to add restaurants to movie complex in Richmond

Bow Tie Cinemas’ Movieland is expanding its venue in Richmond. The company, located at 1301 Boulevard, said Tuesday that it has acquired additional land adjacent to its existing Boulevard Square property. The acquisition will allow the company to carry out its vision for the complex by creating a complete entertainment experience with several new restaurants.
Streetsense of Bethesda, Md., and The Wilton Cos. of Richmond are working to pre-lease two newly constructed retail or restaurant pads in the new section of Boulevard Square, as well as the existing 5,200-square-foot Foundry Building.

B. Hunt Gunter, vice president and principal broker for The Wilton Cos., told Virginia Business that he is putting the word out to contacts in the restaurant industry. “ We have a lot of unique and eclectic chefs here, and they would bring more of a local and dynamic flavor to this property. I, personally, would like to see a local operator take it.”
The two restaurant buildings, yet to go up, would be 3,000 square feet and 3,800 square feet in size, Gunter said. The existing Foundry Building is a historic property whose renovation highlights its history as a brass foundry that used to serve the railroads.

Jeff Pollak, managing principal of Streetsense, a brokerage, design and development company specializing in retail and real estate, noted in a statement that Movieland has been successful in attracting guests to the theater — more than 650,000 each year. “… But we want to be able to offer the ultimate ‘dinner and movie’ experience for Richmonders,” he said.

In addition restaurants, the expansion will provide more parking. Boulevard Square opened in 2009 with the redevelopment of two historic structures: a 53,000-square-foot, former locomotive assembly plant, which now houses Movieland, and the Foundry Building. Movieland offers 17 theatres, private party facilities and a cafe area that serves beer and wine, popcorn, soft drinks and hot foods. Movieland uses Bow Tie Cinemas’ signature custom seating manufactured with premium fabric, wood, and leather. Boulevard Square is located at the intersection of North Boulevard and Leigh Street, close to many of Richmond’s residential neighborhoods and less than a mile from Interstates 95 and 64.